Defence expert predicts increased government infiltration within the CCP with spies.

Governments may increase their espionage efforts in China due to the lack of transparency from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, warns Australian defence expert Michael Shoebridge. He believes that as China closes itself off to foreign journalists, academics, and businesses, other countries will seek to establish sources within Chinese institutions and organizations. Shoebridge emphasizes that these efforts are intended to gain information and insights into the opaque operations of the CCP and those surrounding its leader, Xi Jinping.

Shoebridge’s comments come in the wake of a UK Parliament researcher being arrested on suspicion of spying for China. The suspect, a male Briton in his late 20s, had high-level security clearance and allegedly fed information to Beijing through his position. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his concerns about any interference in the UK’s parliamentary democracy, calling it unacceptable.

In Australia, policymakers have also warned about the risk of foreign interference. Labor MP Peter Khalil, the chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee, urges Australians to remain vigilant against such attempts. He highlights the importance of security vetting for staff working in sensitive positions, including those on committees such as the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Liberal Senator James Paterson calls for a change in Australia’s vetting process, particularly for MPs working on sensitive committees. He points out that the majority of staff in Parliament House are not security vetted, which poses a high risk of Chinese spies undermining Australia’s democratic processes. While security agencies work to mitigate foreign interference, Paterson believes that the vetting process should be strengthened.

Shoebridge predicts that more cases of Chinese espionage and political interference should be expected in Australia and other democratic nations. He states that Beijing sees sowing discord and magnifying dissent as effective tactics, and these activities will continue to destabilize relationships with China. Incidents like the one involving a Chinese academic being raided and offered cash for information could further reinforce Xi Jinping’s mindset of control.

A spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil assures that the government will always follow security advice from intelligence agencies regarding security vetting.